Owlerton Greyhound Stadium, Sheffield
Owlerton Greyhound Stadium,
Penistone Road,
Sheffield,
S6 2DE

FOR a meal with a difference, why not venture over the county border and have a flutter with your bread roll and butter.

Owlerton Greyhound Stadium, just down the road from the Sheffield Wednesday ground in Hillsborough, Sheffield, has recently spent £1.6 million on refurbishing its now 300-seater Panorama Restaurant.

It's aptly named as the venue curves around one of the corners of the greyhound track - and here's the difference.
As you wine and dine, a team of dedicated tote staff armed with their remote control betting gizmos, are happy to take your bets withour your having to leave the comfort of your chair.

You can then take a mouthful while experiencing the excitement of the race through the plate glass window or on one of the many TV monitors tastefully located around the plush venue.

Betting isn't obligatory, but it's fun - and bets can start from as little as 50p.

But what about the food? On our recent visit, head chef Nick Middleton and his team prepared a sumptuous three-course dinner.

I plumped for the prawn and salmon tian, with king prawn creme fraiche with dill and lime and dressed rocket as a starter, which was delicate and light but very flavoursome. This was followed by rump of lamb on wilted spinach, which was cooked to tender perfection.

My guest opted to start with caramelised butternut squash and wild mushroom tartlet, with a hazelnut and chive yoghurt with a main course of chicken supreme baked in smoked bacon with sage, roast garlic mash and Madeira jus - both of which she assured me were just as delicious.

We both went for the chocolate and caramel mousse with vanilla shortbread and Bailey's cream - delicious, but a safe bet that the calorie count was off the scale!
Menus change every two months, but the current January-February is a follows; Starters: Green pea and ham soup; Smoked salmon and goats cheese tartlet, rocket and grain mustard dressing; Chicken liver pate, tomato and rosemary toast and sweet pickle; “Toad in the hole” with Cumberland sausage and onion gravy; Exotic fruits and melon, passion fruit crème fraiche; Tian of prawns, tomato and whisky mayonnaise and little gem lettuce.

Mains: Garlic roast chicken supreme, creamy mushrooms and chive oil; Chargrilled sirloin steak, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish and roast onion gravy; Steamed sea bass, oyster sauce and Chinese greens; Sweet cured pork steak, apple mash, red wine and peppercorn sauce; Shank of lamb braised with winter roots and pearl barley; Flat cap mushroom baked in filo pastry with blue cheese and spinach.

There is a choice of hot and cold desserts available, and prices are £15 per person on Tuesday nights, £20 on Fridays and £25 on Saturdays. Depending on which night you go, free tote jackpot and tote win bets of between £3 and £5 are included in the price, as is admission and a racecard.
From Wakefield, it's just over 22 miles and will take you 36 minutes via the M1 and A61. For more details, visit www.owlertonstadium.co.uk/

By Dean Mellor